Is your poo trying to tell you something? 3 signs to watch for!

It might not be your typical conversation starter, but did you know that your poo can reveal a surprising amount about your health?

While it may not be the most glamorous topic, paying attention to your stool’s colour, shape, consistency and frequency can provide valuable clues about what’s happening inside your digestive system.

Digestive issues are far more common than you may realise. In fact, it’s estimated that up to 12% of people in the UK live with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).¹

So, what exactly is your poo trying to tell you?

1. Colour

The colour of your stool is one of the first things worth noticing.

Sometimes a colour change is completely harmless and simply reflects what you’ve eaten. Foods such as:

Beetroot
Blueberries
Spinach
Carrots
Foods containing artificial colourings

can all temporarily change the appearance of your stool, giving it a pink, red, green, orange or even blue tint.

Green stool can also occur when food moves through your digestive tract more quickly than usual.² Because bile doesn’t have enough time to fully break down, your stool may appear green. This is especially common in people eating a high-fibre diet rich in leafy vegetables.

If you notice persistent black, pale, white or bright red stools without an obvious dietary explanation, it’s important to speak with your GP, as these colours can sometimes indicate an underlying medical condition.

2. Consistency

The Bristol Stool Chart classifies stool into seven different categories, ranging from diarrhoea on one end of the spectrum, to constipation on the other end. Healthy stools are typically medium-brown and should be soft, smooth and easy to pass, around a Type 3 or Type 4 on the chart. The two main forms most people struggle with are:

3. Constipation Vs diarrhoea

Hard, lumpy stools often signal constipation, while loose or watery stools signal diarrhoea and may be caused by a number of things such as:

If you regularly experience loose stools, a short elimination diet may help identify whether certain foods are triggering your symptoms. Removing a suspected food for a week or two before gradually reintroducing it can help you spot patterns.

Keeping a food and symptom diary is another useful way to identify foods that consistently cause digestive discomfort.

Two of the biggest contributors to constipation are:

Not drinking enough fluids
Not eating enough fibre
Some medications

Aim for around 1.5-2 litres of water each day, increasing this during hot weather or when exercising.

Eating a wide variety of fibre-rich foods can also support healthy bowel movements, including:

Fruit
Vegetables
Oats
Wholegrains
Quinoa
Buckwheat
Beans and legumes

Adults should aim for around 30g of fibre per day, but many people struggle to reach this target.

Adding Chuckling Goat’s Complete Prebiotic Powder alongside a healthy, fibre-rich diet can be an easy way to increase your fibre intake while providing beneficial gut microbes with the nourishment they need.

If you’re increasing your fibre intake, remember to increase your water intake too. Fibre absorbs water, so increasing one without the other can sometimes make constipation worse.

Support your gut microbiome

A healthy gut isn’t just about regular, healthy bowel movements – it’s also about maintaining a balanced gut microbiome.

Your gut is home to trillions of microorganisms that help digest food, produce vitamins and support your immune system.

Probiotics introduce beneficial bacteria into the gut, while prebiotics feed the good bacteria already living there.

Our Gut Health Protocol is designed to help restore balance by combining:

Kefir – naturally rich in over 95 different beneficial bacterial strains to help replenish your microbiome.
Complete Prebiotic Powder – provides the fibre your beneficial gut bacteria need to thrive.

Supporting your gut microbiome may also help improve wider digestive symptoms and promote better overall wellbeing.

The gut-brain axis: How stress affects your poo!

Your stool isn’t just impacted by your diet and what you eat. Stress can have a significant impact on digestion through what’s known as the gut-brain axis – the close communication network between your brain and digestive system.

Ever experienced butterflies before an interview or important event?

That’s your gut-brain connection in action.

When you’re stressed, your body releases hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, which can disrupt the normal functioning of your digestive tract.³

For some people, stress speeds digestion up, resulting in loose stools or diarrhoea. For others, it slows digestion down, leading to constipation.

Managing stress can help improve our gut health and reduce symptoms. Simple habits that can help include:

Regular exercise
Prioritising good sleep
Relaxation techniques
Herbal adaptogens such as Ashwagandha (where appropriate)
Eating a balanced, fibre-rich diet
Mindfulness

Talking about poop might feel awkward or embarrassing, but it’s one of the simplest ways to monitor your digestive health.

Paying attention to changes in colour, consistency and frequency can help you spot potential issues early and better understand how your diet, lifestyle and stress levels affect your gut.

Want to know the best posture for a healthy bowel movement? Read our guide to the perfect poo posture here.

Not quite ready to discuss with you friends or family just yet?! Contact one of our Nutritional Therapists via live chat, weekdays from 8am to 8pm.